Balkh records 443 cases of violence against women

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) was celebrated on Saturday in the capital of northern Balkh province, where more than 400 cases of crimes against the gender were recorded this year.

The ceremony marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) in Mazar-i-Sharif city was attended by government officials and civil society activists.

Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) head for the northern zone, Qazi Mohammad Sami, on the sidelines of the ceremony told Pajhwok Afghan News that about 443 cases of violence against women had been recorded this year.

There was a five percent increase in the violence on women this year, as compared to last year’s cases, he said, expressing concern over denial of alimony to women by families.

Sami added the AIHRC had received more complaints regarding denial of alimony to women this year compared to the previous years. He cited poverty, unemployment and insecurity as main reasons behind the phenomenon.

On the other hand, Women’s Affairs Director for Balkh, Shahla Hadid, praised enhanced women’s awareness level about their rights.

She said despite facing many difficulties, women in rural areas like urban areas women knew their rights.

However, civil society activists said holding events to support women had just a symbolic significance.

A civil society activist, Nargis, said efforts made for elimination of violence against women during the past one decade had produced no considerable results. She claimed efforts at ensuring women’s access to their rights remained limited to cities and women in rural areas were deprived of this.